Denyasehemaa Is Not a Royal; Asantehene Affirms

The Paramount Queen of Denyase Traditional Area, Nana Adutwiwaa Bonin III is not of the royal house, the Asanteman Council headed by the Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has ruled.

A Committee was set up to dig up the truth after the royalty status of Denyasehemaa was challenged by Achiasebaapanin Nana Akua Afriyie invoking the Great Oath in support of her stance. Her position was firmly rebutted by the Queen in a counter-invocation of the Great Oath.

Whereas Nana Afriyie denied having any blood relations with Denyasehemaa, the latter said otherwise.

The parties were therefore charged to make available their family trees for review by the Committee.

Findings
Presenting the Committee report on August 19, 2024, before the Council, it was stated that there wasn’t much correlation between the two trees presented. A few names reflected in both.

Upon further review of the similar names, it was found that there were some discrepancies.

“For instance, the two similar names were Akosua Nkyiwaa and Nana Effah. However, the names that were provided as the siblings of Akosuah Nkyiwaa were different. On the tree of the Baapanin, Nana Effah appeared as part of the third generation but on the Queen’s tree, he appeared as a member of the second generation. Additionally, his children on both trees differed.”

Another key finding was that Denyasehemaa’s family tree omitted the Obaapanin of Achiase as well as her immediate mother and grandmother, throwing her case in doubt. Additionally, the committee highlighted that her witness was not a member of the royal family which made her case lighter.

Based on these findings, the Committee suggested that Denyasehemaa was indeed not a royal and not related to Achiase as she argued.

The outcome of the Committee received the full support of all Divisions and Paramount Chiefs present before it was affirmed by the Asantehene.

Adoption
Laying out his ruling, Asantehene chronicled the series of events that afforded the predecessors of the Nana Adutwiwaa the chance to occupy the stool.

“Achiasebaapanin is the direct descendant of Dwaben Serwaa,” he said, adding that her brother Kwame Domase took in Aho- a predecessor of the current Denyasehemaa.

Aho at the time had suffered the loss of several children, leaving her childless. She was adopted into the home of the royals of Achiase following the intervention of Kwame Domase.

“Her descendants remained in the royal home. Aho is not related to Achiase. They however got the chance to take over the stool in the process of time. Later Opanin Kyei (a true royal) was elected to take up the stool but a plea went to my brother Opoku Ware and therefore a change in candidate. Opanin Kyei was in-law of Opoku Ware and so they settled it indoors and he let go of the stool because he couldn’t challenge the King.”

The Asantehene noted that Denyasehemaa could have saved herself by avoiding a counter invocation.

“Denyasehemaa could have used peace to her advantage but she chose quite the opposite. And since the investigation has brought this to light, I have no choice but to put the stool where it truly belongs.”

Fine
Denyasehemaa was therefore fined four rams for the counter invocation of the Great Oath in vain.

They are to be presented when the Council sits again on Monday, August 26, 2024, at the Manhyia Palace.